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Scuffling Kendrick comes through in clutch moment

Scuffling Kendrick comes through in clutch moment

Howie Kendrick

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CHICAGO -- There is only one American League second baseman hitting for a better average than Howie Kendrick's .283 right now, and it's Yankees perennial All-Star Robinson Cano.

Kendrick's batting average with runners in scoring position and two outs is another story. Heading into Saturday night's game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, his average was a paltry .191 in 47 at-bats.

That's why his two-out single in the 10th inning to plate the eventual winning run loomed so large for him and the Angels -- especially coming off hard-throwing left-hander Matt Thornton.

"You just want to hit the ball hard there and get a pitch over the plate," Kendrick said. "He happened to leave the ball out over the plate there and I put a swing on it. I wasn't going up trying to hit a gap or anything. I was just trying to get a hit."

Earlier in the game, Kendrick hit into a double play with nobody out and runners on first and second to effectively kill a potential rally, which is also something he's done more of than he'd like this season.

"It [stinks], but at the same time that's going to happen over the course of a season," Kendrick said. "I'm not trying to go up there and hit into a double play, but it just seems like I've done it a few times this year. At the same time, I'm not worried about doing it. I'm going up there trying to drive the ball. If the game's close or something like that, you just think about your situation. Maybe you give yourself up sometimes, whether that's via the bunt or whatever, but at the same time you're trying to drive guys in."